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Shooting survivor says house torn down without her knowledge

Geneva King always hoped one day she would be able to return to her home on Detroit’s west side.

In November, 1991, King and her boyfriend at the time, Willie Finley, were shot outside the GM plant in Pontiac.

Both survived, but their injuries prevented them from moving back into the Whitcomb Avenue home. Since then, King says a conservator has been overseeing her financial responsibilities.

King believed the house was being maintained and rented out. Only, it wasn’t.

The house became an eyesore in the nice neighborhood. According to city officials, city council ordered it be added to the emergency demo list.

In November, 2015, a contractor tore it down, at tax payer expense. The $11,337.50 bill was paid out of the city of Detroit’s quality of life budget.

According to a city official, blight violations were issued and notices sent to the home went ignored. King says she never received the notices because she never returned to the house following the 1991 shooting.

King believes attorney Wayne A. Wilson, who she says was appointed her conservator, should have known about the condition of the property and had it repaired.

King plans on addressing the issue thru the probate court, and has a court date later this month.

7 Action News reached out to Wayne A. Wilson for comment. He has not returned phone calls, and when we stopped by his Downtown Detroit office, we were told Wilson was on the road and not able to be reached.

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